Coillín
Nestled between the strong musical influences of South Sligo to the north and East Galway to the south, the traditional art of ballad singing and song-making has flourished quietly alongside the rich musical heritage of County Roscommon over the past 100 years and more. The South Roscommon Singers Circle has been in the forefront of preservation and development over the past quarter of that period and many of its patrons have helped to bring it to wider national and international audiences in more recent years - Great Britain, Continental Europe and the United States. Likewise, the flute players of Roscommon have affirmed their rightful status where ever traditional music is played around the world. Coillín brings together those two elements of Co. Roscommon's rich heritage.
Coillín (or Culleen, the Anglicized spelling), which means 'A Little Wood', forms part of numerous place names in Co. Roscommon, i.e. Culleenirwin - the little wood of the wild boar.
Coillín are: Johnny Johnston (voice); Declan Coyne (voice); Liam Loughrey (guitar & voice) and Patsy Hanly (flute and whistle)
Johnny Johnston's repertoire ranges from traditional west of Ireland ballads (in Irish and English) to big Napoleonic classics as well as an occasional Irish American favourite, a 'new' composition or maybe a relevant poem at a particular time. Johnny sings with and without accompaniment.
The Traveller Community, past and present, have left their mark on Declan Coyne's repertoire of songs, while he also includes many ballads he himself has collected and researched locally. He also tends to be drawn towards love songs (of all degrees!) and rare classics from the Scottish, English and Appalachian traditions. He sings mostly unaccompanied.
Liam Loughrey is one of the most talented and versatile guitar accompanists in the Roscommon / East Galway region. Having played a lot of music with and worked alongside Patsy Hanly in Roscommon County Council for many years, he is well tutored on the intricacies of Roscommon flute music and all other genres he encounters in the region. He is also a very fine balladeer in his own rite.
Patsy Hanly is, undoubtedly, one of the most accomplished flute players in Traditional Irish Music today. One of the great exponents of the South Sligo Style, Patsy has done it all, having played his music all around the world, including numerous tours of the United States going as far back as the 1970s. He also wore a path to Britain in the heyday of the Folk Club scene there and he might well have been a 'Chieftain' had he not decided to stick with the day job when that amazing band of Irish Ambassadors were going pro., also in the '70s.
We certainly hope you will all enjoy listening to this blend of music and song and that you will experience, at least, some of the atmosphere you might expect at a trad. session in Roscommon Town on a Thursday night, Friday night in Ballinasloe, or a singing session in Knockcroghery on a Saturday night.
This Thursday night, the gathering is at our nearby Glen Echo Town Hall, saving you the long trip to Roscommon.
Thanks to the O'Neill-Malcom Branch of CCE (Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann) for helping to bring the performers to America, and for helping with this concert.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!Click here to sign up as a volunteer at this event and get a free pass to a future FSGW event! (Any concert, dance or workshop with a fixed admission price of $25 or less.)
